Subsurface flowmeter



Jan. 29, 1957 R, c. RUMBLE Er/u.

sUBsuRFAcE FLowMETER Filed Dec. 17, 1953 I Yy United States Patent()SUBSURFACE FLOWMETER Robert C. Rumble and Beldon A. Peters, Houston,Tex., assignors, by mesne. assignments, to Esso Research and EngineeringCompany, Elizabeth', N. Si., a corporation ofDelaware ApplicationDecember-17, 1953,1Serial No. 398,722

6` Claims: (CI.73155) The present invention is directedto a subsurfaceflow meter. More particularly, the invention: is directed to asubsurface well flow meter for use in detectingfluid flowk in a wellpenetrating subsurface earth strata. in its more particular aspects,the'invention has'to do with a well flow meter comprised of improvedmeans'for detecting flow of fluids and providing arecord thereof.

Theinvention may be'brietiydescribed as a well ow meterwhichcomprisesAan elongated body member provided with an elongated chamber having.. aninletand an outlet for ilow ofjwelluidsvthrough the chamber. The body|-`member is provided with means for anchoring the body member 'in a wellbore.

the spacebetweenV the body member and the wall of'th'e well bore.Arranged in the chamberrco-axially with the longitudinal axis thereof isa -tubular guide member. Slidably-mounted on the tubular'gnidemember isa magnetic lioat-member whichV isadapted; to move upwardly anddownwardly in the chamber on flow or fluids therethrough.

A magnetic follower memberis arranged inside the guide.

member for movement with the float member. The oat member operates inuid at well pressure whilethe mag-Y net 'follower moves in an enclosedairspace, thus eliminati ing thenecessity `for a packingelement between,the me? tering iloat'and'recordingchart; The `follower member has,attached to itany elongated member" whichi. moves within a cylindricalchart.' Attached" to theA elongated memberis asmarkingmeans^suchasastyluswhich is spring-biased "into contact with thecylindrical chart.' The A chart is driven by a motor, such asclockworks,. and a` L trace is `displayed on kthe 'chart 'in responseto` fluidow through the chamberand'movement'of the float member.

The oat member and thechamber'comprise a rotameter, or variable areaflowmeter,,fordetermining therow' from the inlet to the outlet.'

The packingmeans is arranged between the inletand the outlet fordirecting flowthrough'the chamber.' The packingl means may beenclosed'normally by aV slidable sleeve. Thebody member has meansarranged therein for releasing and moving the slidable'sleeve to free`thepacking member. Thepacking member encloses'a space in uidcommunication with.,the inlet. The'spacerhas arranged in it at least onespring'member for-lilling' this space with wellliuid'byinflatingjthepacking member.

The 'body membermay becomprised of-a"li`rstsection and a secondsectionwith` thefirstr section' movable with respect to the second section. Thepacking member'. isl

Arranged on Iand carried. by the body member is a packing member forsealing oft' '2,779,192 Patented Jan. 29, 1957 Fig. 3 is a partialcross-sectional view of the middle portion of the flow meter of thepresent invention;

Fig. 4 is a det-ail of a portion of the apparatus of Fig. 3;

Fig. 5 is a sectional'view of the lower portion of the apparatus of thepresent invention; and

Fig. 6 illustrates a mechanism for setting the device prior tooperatingvsame.

Referring now to the drawing, numeral 11 generally indicates a bodymember which, is comprised of a rst section 12 and a second section 13.The rst section 12 is provided on its upper end with a shing neck orspear 14 which is attached to a wire line 15 by means of a grab hook 16,and the like. The fishing neck 14 is threadably connected to the section12 by way of a threaded plug member 17 which, in turn, is connected tosection 12; the fishing neck 14 and section 12'being connected to plugmember 17 by mating threads 18 and 19,'respectively, andy a iiuid sealis effected between section 12 and plug mem* ber 17 by means of O-ring17a set in recess 17b. Section 12 is provided with a chamber 20 in whichis arranged a clockwork assembly or other motivating means 21which isshown diagramatically and which is attached to the upper end of thewalls of the chamber by brackets 22 which, in turn, are attached to theclockwork assembly 21 and the walls of the chamber 20 by screw threads23 and 24.

Arranged below the clockwork assembly 21 in the chamber 2li is acylindrical chart 25 which is designed to rotate in chamber 20,-beinginterconnected with the clockwork assembly by.` a coupling member 26which causes rotation of the chart.

Arranged below the chamber 20 in the section 12 is an elongated chamber27 defined by the walls 28 of a member 29 which is threadably connectedto, and forms part of section 12, by means of mating threads 30. Thechamber 27 is a rotameter chamber and has a general coniguration` commonto such rotameter chambers as illustrated. The lower portion of therotameter chamber is provided with aspider device 31 which supports atubular guide member 32 which projects through the chamber 27 and isconnected to the section 12. The lower end of the tubular member 32 isclosed by a threaded closure member 33 while the upper end of thetubular guide member 32 communicates with the interior of the chart 25through a slotted cylinder 34.

Slidably mounted on the guide member 32 in the chamber 27 is a rotameteroat 35 which consists of -a strong cylindrical permanent magnet such asAlnico V provided with soft iron pole pieces 36 and 37 at its poles toconcentrate the magnetic eld in the desired direction, the float member35 and the pole pieces 36 and 37 comprising a iioat magnet. Arranged inthe 'tubular member 32 is a magnetic follower 38 which is comprised of apermanent magnet body such as Alnico V terminated by softtiron polepieces 39 and 4i). Attached to the magnetic follower 3S is an elongatedmember 41 which extends through the guide member 32 into the slottedcylinder 34. Attached to the upper end of `the elongated member 41 is aleaf spring or biasing means 42 which has. a stylus Li3 attached theretoinoperative relationship with the chart 25; The elongated member 41 isprovided with a plurality of roller bearings 44 which 'are shown moreclearly in Fig. 2.

It is to be noted that `the upper end of the chamber 27 is provided witha plurality of outlets 45 through which fluid entering the chamber 27through an inlet described in `detail hereinafter is discharged into thewell bore into which the device is lowered by `means of the wire line15.

Referring now to Fig. 3, it will be noted rthat the member 29rcarriesyan expansible packing member 46 which is attached to the member 29 bymeans of a threaded nut Warez 3 47 and a sleeve 48 which is providedwith a shoulder 49. The packing member 46 has a bead 50 which fitssnugly against curved section 51 of the member 239. The packing member46 is sealed by taking up on the nut 47 which moves the sleeve 40downward against the outer surface of the packing member 46.

The lower end of the packing member 46 is also providedwith a bead 52and the lower end of the packing member 46 is held into engagement witha curved member 53, which is similar to the curved member 51, by meansof a threaded nut 54 and a cylindrical sleeve On taking up on the nut 54the sleeve 55 is forced against the outer surface of the packing member46 and causes it to be retained on the curved member 53.

Connected toA the curved member 51 by hinges 51!) and lthe curved member53 by hinges 53a is a plurality of fiat springs 56 which are enclosed inthe packing member 46. Threadably connected to the curved member 51 bythreads 51a is a tubular member S7 which is provided with at least aport 58 communicating the interior of the tubular member 57 with thespace 59 enclosed by the packing member 46 in which the spring members56 are arranged. The tubular member 57 terminates in a shoulder 60 whichforms an inlet 61 for the passageway 62 through the tubular member 57intochamber 27a in the member 29 which communicates the spider 31 withchamber 27. The inlet 61 is closed by a valve means 63. The valve meansis connected by means of a coupling 64, shown in more detail in Fig. 4,to a plug 65. The plug 65 is coimected to a rod member 66 which will bedescribed in more detail. Connected to the plug 65 are pins 67 which, inturn, are connected to a sleeve member 68 which is normally held inenclosing relationship with the packing member 46, as shown, while thedevice of the present inventionis lowered in a well bore.

The curved member 53 forms the upper end of a plug member 69 to whichthe nut 54 is threadably engaged. The plug member 69 encloses theshoulder 60 and the lower end of the tubular member 57. Member 53 andplug 69 are part of section 13. The plug member 69 has a plurality ofrecesses 70 in which are arranged spheres or balls 71 which serve tohold the tirst section 12 against movement with respect to the secondsection 13 as will be described. v

It is to be noted that the sleeve 68 is provided with ports 72 and thelower end of the sleeve member 68 defines with the plug member 69 aspace 73, the purpose of which will be described in more detailhereinafter.

Referring now to Fig. 4, it will be seen that the plug 65 and thecoupling 64 are threadably connected to the rod 66 by a screw plug 74.Also it will be seen that the valve member 63 is biased to close theinlet 61 by a spring 75.

The upper end ol the section 13 is comprised of the member 69 whichdefines the recess 70 with part 76 in which the spheres or 'balls 71 arearranged and provides a slotted member 77 which is connected at itslower end by mating threads 78, as shown in Fig. 5, to the main portionof section 13. The rod member 66 protrudes into the section 13 land hasa pointed lower end 79, the function of which will be described in moredetail hereinafter.

Section 13 is provided with a rack member 30 having a passageway 81 forthe rod 66. The rack member S0 has a shoulder 32. The upper end of therack member S is arranged in a chamber 83 while the lower end protrudesinto a window section 84 provided with windows 85. The rack member 80 isbiased upwardly by a helical coil spring 86 which bears upwardly againstthe shoulder 82 and against the lower wall 87 of the chamber 83.

Resting on the upper end of the shoulder 82 is a helical `coil spring S8which acts 'as a shock 'absorber and depresses rack member 80 whensleeve 63 is released as will bel described further. The rack member 50has teeth 89 on its lower end which engage with teeth 90 of dogs 91which are adapted -to move out through windows 85 into engagement withthe wall of the well.

A wall member' 92 provides a passageway 93 for the lower end 'of the rodmember 66 and carries a downwardly extending member 94 which enclosesthe pointed end 79 of the rod 66 which holds a sphere or ball 95 inengagement with the end 79 and thus supports the rod 66 and pin 67 andholds the sleeve 63 in enclosing relationship with the packing mem'ber46.

The wall member 92 is threadably connected by mating threads 96 to anend member 97 which is sealed to the wall member 92 by means of anG-ring 9S in a recess 99. The wail member 92 is provided with a recess100. An G-ring 101 is arranged to provide a huid-tight seal with the rodmember 66 in passageway 93.

Enclosing the member 94 is a cageI 102 which is normally biased in adownward direction by a spring 103. The end of rod member 66 and thecage 102 are arranged in the upper yend of a chamber 104 dened by thewall member 92 and a second Wall member 105 which is threadably engagedwith section 97 by threads 106. The wall member 105 is provided with arecess 107 in which is arranged an O-ring 108 to form a seal with theupper end 109 of an extension member 110 which forms part of a pistonmember 111. Wall member 105 is also provided with a recess 107-A and anO-ring 10S-A to seal it against wall member 125. The upper end of theextension member 110 is provided with a shoulder 112 which projects intothe chamber 104 and which is arranged in operative relationship with thecage 102.

Arranged between a shoulder 113 of the piston member 111 and a shoulder114 of the wall member 105 is a biasing means, such as a helical coilspring 115, which normally urges the piston member 111 in an upwarddirection.

It is to be noted that the wall member 105y and a plate member 126define a chamber 113 which is adapted to be filled with a suitablehydraulic fluid, such as a mineral oil or a silicone uid having aviscosity of about 12,500 centistokes at 25 C. The piston member 111 isprovided with a passageway 119 and a check valve 120 comprised of a ball121 and a passageway 122. The piston member 111 has a recess 123 inwhich is arranged an O-ring 124 which provides a seal with the wall 125.Arranged below the piston member 111 in chamber 118 is a iloating plate126 which is provided with recesses 127 and 127-A in which are arranged,respectively, O-rings or sealing members 128 and 129. The plate 126 hasa passageway 130 which may be closed by threaded plug 131.

The lower end of the end member 97 has an interiorly projecting circularshoulder 132 which serves to retain the plate 126 in the chamber 118when setting the assembly as will be described.

It is to be noted that the bottom member 116 is provided with a recess133 in which is arranged an O-ring or sealing member 134 forming a sealwith the wall 125.

The lower end of the piston member 111 projects through a pasageway 135in plate member 126 and is provided on its lower end with internalthreads 136 which are adapted to cooperate with a setting device, suchas shown in Fig. 6.

Referring to Fig. 6, it will be seen that the wrench 140 is providedwith a handle 141 and an elongated member 142 which carries on a freeend an externally threaded section 143, the threads of which aredesigned to be attached to threads 136 of piston member 111.

The apparatus of the present invention operates in the following manner:

Prior to lowering the device of Figs. l to 6 in a well bore, the bottommember 116 is opened and the chamber 118 is lled with a suitablehydraulic fluid, of the type mentioned, through the passageway 130.

The wrench 140 is threadably attached to threads 136 and the pistonmember 111 pulled down until shoulder member 112 rests on Wall member105, approximately as shown in Fig. 5. The bottom member 116 is thenthreadiK/Pl.

zgn von one rablyf'connectedto-thewall 125 v-by threadsI -117 andethee`device lowered intol the :Wellbore to'the :position where*Y itis desiredto determine the vow of -well fluids. Thecombination of hydraulicfluidfviscosity and the tensionl of spring 115,- and the size ofport'119of piston 111 are preselected -to lpermit suicient time to run-'theinstrument into the yhole before shoulder 112moves into opera'- tionalrelationship with cage 102 and releases rod'66" which is forced downwardby well pressure.

This spring-loaded piston arrangement with'fluid escape port iscommonly-known as a dashpot. To describe the operation in more detail,the shoulder member A112 is forced upwardlyby the lbiasing means` 115which causes fluid to be forced-through the passageway 119 asth'e'"pistonmember 111-and extension 110 move upwardly into chamber 104. Whenthe shoulder 112 engages with the cage 102, the cage isforced upwardlycompressing the spring 103 which allows the sphere or ball 95 to move'outwardly into the spacey 150 which releases the pointed end 79 of therod 66 and well pressure forces rod 66 downward. This pulls the sleeve68 downward exposing the packing member 46; As the rod 66 and the sleeve68 move downward, the plug 65 comes into contact-with the spring 8Scompressing it and causing shoulder 82 to move downward compressing thespring 86 and forcing the rack member 80 downwardly engaging theteeth 89with the teeth 90 of dogs 91 which are forced out into engagement withthe wall of the well, anchoring the device of the' present invention inxed relationship with the wall thereof. The Vrod member 66mcomes to restin the piston member 111 and the extension member 110 in a passageway151 provided therefor when the bottom of sleeve 68 bumps shocksabsorbing washer 152.

Since the sleeve y68 has moved downward with' relationship to the plug69,' asthe space 73 passes adjacent tothe recess 7i) the spheres orballs 71 are free to move outwardly. The tubular member 5'7 connected tomember 29 comprising section 12 may then move downward with respect tosection 13. The wire line is then slacked off which allows thek sectiony12 including member 57 to move downward with respect to section 13.Movement downward of the section 12 and member S7 causes the springs 56to bow outwardly within the packing member 46 and causing the space 59to be enlarged and causing Well fluid to be drawn into space S9 from"passageway 62 through port 58.v Continued movement of the member 57downwardly causes the port 58 to move" within plug 69- past O-ring 69-Ain recess 69-B which closes port 5S. Since the space 59 is filled, thepacking' member 46 is expanded into sealing relationship with the wallof the well bore by slacking the line further and allowing the weight ofsection 12 to bear on the packing` member 46 and the enclosed uid.

0n downward movement of the rod 66 and attached valve 63 the inlet 61 isopened, thus allowing well fluids to pass through ports 72 in sleeve 68and thence through4` the slotted sections 77 into inlet 61, passageway62,.cham' ber 27a and into chamber 27. This is possible by virtue" ofthe packing member 46 having sealed od the space between the well newmeter and the wall of the well allowing-fluids to be directed to thewell flow meter. Theow of uids through chamber 27 causes the rotametertloat to rise in the rotameter. chamber 27. As the rotameter oat 3S,which comprises a iloating magnet, rises the magnetic follower 38 4alsorises which causes the stylus 43 to make a mark on the rotating chart 25which is driven by the clockwork assembly 21. Thus a record is made ofthe amount of ow through the chamber 27 at each instant covered by thetime interval represented-by the angle of rotation of the chart.

The elongated member 41 is provided with a universal joint :dato:allow...for possible slight: misalignrnentf'of guide member 32 andslotted cylinder 34;.

In practice, the instrument may be run on' a wire line through tubingout into cased as well as into uncased and sealingzprocess describedabove; upper sectiony oflth'e instrument lis raised enough touncover`port yStiunder the packer, the trapped -uid is immediately-released,and vthev packer' is deflated; When*A the-instrument reenters the tubingon removal-from'the hole, the dogs arereadily depressed by the lower'endof 5 the tubing :forcing thelrack upward against biasing spring While'the -device ofthe" present invention hasfbeen illustrated by anchoringmeans, such as-.dogs*-91,- it f to be understood vthat other anchoringmeans mayfbeeused. v

The device of the present invention has'beenusedsuccessfullyin'determining ow rates in oil'wells. The'protective sleeve serves toprotect the packing member 46i it is being lowered'into the well bore.

Therotameter assembly comprised of the float 35 incorporatinga magnetand lthe chamber 27 with the magnet-ic follower and stylus allowsimproved flow determina- 19.116311 Sti'ata.

metering and recording device, improved results are ob` tained kinproducing intervals.l from' which desired tuids arey obtained insubsurface strata.

The present-invention is particularly useful for lowering in 'a wellthrougha tubing stringona wire line and thek like, and issuficientlysmall to pass readily'througha tu'bing'ofabout-Z diameterand' beY introduced into a wellcasing of substantially larger size ofthe order of `5" to' l0". Thereafter the packer is expanded :to ll and'seal the casing or with the walls of a well bore. It is toA beunderstood, however, that the device is adapted to and may be used inlarger size pipe than 2 tubing.

The nature and objects of the present invention having been completelydescribed and illustrated, what we wish to claim as new and useful andto secure by Letters Patent 1. A subsurface well owmeter 'comprising anelongated body including upper and lower sections adapted `to be movedrelative to each other, fluid flow recording means arranged in saidupper section, fluid ow responsive means positioned in said uppersection and operatively' connected to said, Huid flow recording means,said upper section being tween said inlet and outlet ports adapted todirect tluid. flow through said uid flow responsive means, meansarranged in said lower section adapted to actuate said movable closuremeans thereby' permitting fluid to ilow through said inlet port and saidoutlet port, anchoringmeans connected to said lower lsection andengagedly connecting-.with said movable means adapted to anchor" saidlower section inf'the well, said uppersection being;

formed with a sideport fluidly communicating said packing means and saidpassageway, sealing means arranged.

on said -lower section adapted to close off said sidefport fromuidow-therethrough upon movement of saidk upper section relative to saidlower section whereby after saidlower` section is anchored and saidclosure `means is*u opened, tluidwin-'said-upper sectionf.is'drawn intovsaid: packingimeanszas kthe upper. sectionfis movedrelativetoVV said:lower-1 sectionA .ands-fluid drawn linto-'said packing means is trappedtherein to seal oi said well.

2. A subsurface well flowmeter comprising an elongated body includingupper and lower sections movable relative to each other, a rotameterchamber arranged in said upper section, tubular guide means positionedaxially in said chamber, magnetic float means arranged on said guidemeans adapted to move upon movement of iluid by the iloat means andthrough the chamber, magnetic follower means arranged within saidtubular guide means adapted to move upon movement of said magnetic iloatmeans, a cylindrical chart arranged in said upper section, a slottedcylinder positioned within said cylindrical chart, extension meansconnected to said follower extending into said slotted cylinder, astylus connected to said extension means extending through said slottedcylinder adapted to record movement of said follower means on said chartanda motor operatively connected to said cylind rical chart adapted torotate same, said extension means beingprovided with roller bearingsVarranged in slots of said slotted cylinder to facilitate movement 0isaid follower means, said upper section being formed to provide al fluidflow outlet port communicating with said chamber, an open-ended tubularmember iluidly communieating with said chamber, movable closure meansarranged on said lower section initially closing one end of said tubularmember, expansible packing means connected to said upper and lowersections between the initially closed tubular end and said outlet portadapted to direct uid ow through said tubular member and said rotameterchamber, means arranged in said lower section adapted to actuate saidmovable closure means, thereby permitting iluid to ow through saidtubular member and said chamber, anchoring means connected to said lowersection and engagedly connecting with said movable means adapted toanchor said lower section in said well, said tubular member being formedto provide a port intermediate its length adapted to fluidly communicatesaid tubular member and said packing means and adapted to be closed oifrom iiuid flow therethrough upon movement of said upper section towardsaid lower section whereby after said lower section is anchored and saidclosure means is opened, iluid in said upper section is drawn into saidpacker as the upper section is moved relative tol said lower section andfluid drawn into said packing means is trapped therein to seal ott saidwell.

3. A subsurface well iiowmeter comprising an elongated body includingupper and lower sections movable relative to each other, said uppersection being formed to provide longitudinally spaced inlet and outletports and a iluid flow 'passageway therebetween, lluid ilow recordingmeans positioned in said upper section, lluid flow responsive meanspositioned in said upper section in said tluid iiow passageway andoperatively connected to said iluid llow recording means, and expansiblepacking means positioned between said inlet and outlet ports adapted todirect lluid through said passageway, said upper section being formed toprovide a side port lluidly communieating said packing means and saidpassageway, said side port being adapted to be closed oit from fluidflow therethrough upon movement of said upper section toward said lowersection, said lower section including movable closure means adapted toinitially close said inlet port, timing means for actuating said closuremeans, and anchoring means operatively engageable with said closuremeans upon movement thereof adapted to anchor said lower section in thewell whereby after said lower section is anchored and said closure meansis opened, fluid in said upper section is drawn into said packing meansas the upper section is moved relative to said lower section and iluiddrawn into said packing means is trapped therein.

' 4. A device as recited in claim 3 wherein said tlow recording meansincludes a motor, a cylindrical chart operatively connected to saidmotor, a cylindrical slotted member positioned within said chart and astylus arranged within a slot of said slotted cylinder, said slottedcylinder providing a guide and retainer for said stylus, and whereinsaid tlow responsive means includes a tubular guide means, a magneticfloat means arranged on said guide means adapted to move upon movementof iluid ilow by the float means and through the chamber, a magneticfollower means arranged within said tubular guide means adapted to moveupon movement of said magnetic float means, means connecting saidfollower means to said stylus.

5. A subsurface Well ilowmeter comprising an elongated body memberincluding first and second sections movable relative to each other, llowrecording means positioned in said first section, a rotameter chamberand an elongated open ended tubular member being formed to provide aport intermediate its length positioned in said first section, saidtubular port being adapted to be closed orl from iiuid liow therethroughupon movement of said upper section toward said lower section, one ofsaid open ends of said tubular member uidly communicating with saidrotameter chamber, the other of said open ends being initially closed byvalve means, llow responsive means arranged in said chamber operativelyconnected to said How recording means, said body member being formed toprovide a iuid ilow outlet port lluidiy communicating said rotameterchamber and the exterior of said body member, expansible packing meanssecured to said first and second sections sealingly enclosing saidtubular member port to direct huid flow through said tubular member uponexpansion thereof, said second section being formed to provide fluidinlet openings adapted to permit uid communication between the exteriorof said second section and said valve means, a slidable sleeve connectedto said valve means and being formed with a port therein and initiallyenclosing said expansible packing means, timing means arranged in saidsecond section adapted to cause actuation of said valve means wherebysaid valve means and said sleeve move downwardly to permit fluid flowthrough said sleeve port, said second section inlet openings and saidtubular member and anchoring means connected to said second sectionoperatively engaging with said valve means adapted to anchor said secondsection insaid well whereby after said lower section is anchored andsaid closure means is opened fluid in said upper section is drawn intosaid packer as the upper section is moved ,relative to said lowersection whereby fluid drawn into said packer is trapped therein to sealoi said well.

6. A device as recited in claim 5 wherein said flow recording meanscomprises a motor, a cylindrical chart operatively connected to saidmotor, a slotted cylinder positioned within said chart, a stylusextending through one of said slots in said slotted cylinder and whereinsaid ilow responsive means comprises a tubular guide means, magnetic lowmeans arranged on said guide means adapted to move upon iluid flowthereby, magnetic follower means positioned in said guide means adaptedto move upon movement of said magnetic i'loat means, means connectingsaid follower means to said stylus and roller bearing means arranged inslots of: said slotted cylinder and on said connecting means adapted tomove with said stylus, said slotted cylinder providing a guide as aretainer for said roller bearings and said stylus.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNlTED STATES PATENTS2,216,268 Pritsche Oct. l, 1940 2,348,192 Chambers May 9, 1944 2,380,399Bowie July 3l, 1945 2,629,446 Freling et al Feb. 24, 1953 FOREIGNPATENTS 814,943 Germany Sept. 27, 1951

